Part of our culture
-A A +AFriday, June 29, 2012
SUPER BOB, kay dili na man mi maka-disiplina sa among mga anak kun makasala o magbinuang gumikan anang ordinansa sa konseho, kun makasala sila amo nalang silang ihatod ngadto sa mga konsehal aron sila maoy modisiplina.”
This is just one of the many negative reactions I received from my radio listeners in connection with the passage by the Cebu City Council of an ordinance that bars parents, nannies, househelps, foster parents, relatives and guardians from imposing corporal punishment, physical and verbal, as a form of disciplinary action to their children.
This reminds me of the story about a customer and a rice store owner. Before leaving for the market to buy rice, a housewife heard on radio that its price is P40 per kilo.
But in the market, she saw that the price tag was P45 per kilo. So she confronted the store owner and accused him of overpricing. Irked, the store owner shouted: “Hala, adto palit og bugas didto sa estasyon sa radyo.”
I don't know what's in the minds of the city councilors who supported this measure. A national law that protects the rights of the children--Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act—already exists and yet they still passed this ordinance. It carries a penalty of six months imprisonment or a fine of P5,000 or both.
They did not consider the effect of this measure to the children's growth. They should have exempted the parents from the ordinance because they have the right and full authority to discipline their kids.
Corporal punishment is defined under the human rights law as any punishment that uses physical force and intends to cause some degree of pain or discomfort. This includes hitting children with a belt or ruler, pinching, slapping or striking them or grabbing them around the arm or neck and throwing them to the floor or slamming them into a wall.
Corporal punishment in the home or parental corporal punishment usually involves spanking or the slapping of a child with an open hand but occasionally with an implement such as a belt, slipper, cane or paddle. In many cultures, parents are regarded as having the duty of disciplining their children and the right to spank them when appropriate.
However, attitudes have changed following the passage of legislations protecting the rights of the children. Several countries have outlawed domestic corporal punishment of children. But culturally, many people believe a certain amount of corporal punishment for children is appropriate and necessary.
Maybe the proponents of the city council ordinance forgot that disciplining children using slight (again, slight) physical punishment is already part of our culture.
I had my own share of this kind of punishment when I was a kid. I experienced belting and pinching. But this made me realize my mistakes and hadcontributed to what I am now. Ayaw pod nang bunal nga mora kag nagpatay og halas o bitin.
Naa man gani panultihon nga nagkanayon nga “ang bunal sa inahan nagdala kana og pagpangga ug pagmahal.” No parent would inflict slight (again, slight) physical harm on their children if they did nothing wrong. And with this measure, what kind of punishment would we impose on erring children?
Kung mangasaba ta nila ato na lang ihunghong. O ba kaha ipaagi sa text.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on June 30, 2012.
Opinion
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